Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-03-03
HAY IN STACKS.
The Enormous Los Resulting from Do'
Acient Methods Of Stacking.

HAY IN STACKS.
The Enormous Loss Resulting from ID.
Acsent Methods Of Stacking.
Prof j. w. Sanborn, in a bulletin
recently issued. gives the results of his
experience on the grounds of the Mis-
souri, Agricultural College in regard to
the practical subject, shrinkage of hay
in stacks.
While Prot. Sanborn does not con-
slider the stacking of hay an economical
method he has been forced to this pre-
vailing practice. He says: 'Hay con-
tains in the dry. as well as in the green
state, matter that is soluble in water.
For this reason all exposed hay on the
exterior of stacks is subject to having
washed from it such soluble matter.
In round stacks the amount of hay thus
exposed is much larger than is usually
supposed. A body one foot in diameter
contains only one-fourth the matter of
body two feet in diameter. Thus six
inches from the circumference towards
the center will contain four times as
much matter as the central part of 3
round body two feet in diameter.
A stack of hay. II feet in diameter
and feet to the point of its drawing
in, and > feet more to the top of its
cone, will contain, on its outside foot,
at $50 feet to the ton. 2S6. 81 pounds of
hay, while the interior will contain
$50. 40 pounds. Thus, So per cent. of
the hay of the ordinary round stacks
of the State is found on the outside
foot of those stacks. A heavy proper
ton of this food is obviously subject to
loss by teaching rains, by moldering
and by actual rotting in badly-con-
structed stacks.
August 9, 1884. the professor had put
up well-made stack of second crop Of
clover. 1t was in good style to shed
rain and capped with other material
1t was not injured internally by water.
1t weighed. August 9, on stacking,
6.514 pounds. 1t was tested for water
contents by the water bath and found
to contain 32.5 per cent. of water.
March it was again all weighed with
much care to prevent loss of hay in
handling. Its eight was 4, 54S pounds.
AT this time it contained 1911 per cent.
of water, the change in water contents
being quite noticeable. 1t was neces-
sary to ascertain the dry matter of the
hay, both in the fall and in the spring:
Fri Wei1ht
Dry Matter.
Pounds.
G.514 pounds less 325 per cent. water. is. S97
4,J4S pounds, less 1911 per cent. water, .3sl4
Loss of organic matter until March g.. $50
Per cent. loss. seven and one half months. 1872
What would have been the loss from
July until May, when the last of VIM
ter food is supposed to be fed?
Prof. Sanborn makes the following
application to the above facts:
First-The 6,5l4 pounds of hay in the
fall would have been as well sold at s.
ton as the 4,54S pounds at 81. a ton
in the spring. This does not include
interest and cost of handling which
would carry the spring cost up to IS
per ton to equal the s. fall price. These
figures contemplate the sale of hay de
rect from the field.
Second-The above figures of shrink
age for the stack in question do not in
clude the injury to the hay on the bot
tom of the stack and the direct injury
at other parts.
Third-The 1872 per cent. loss was
doubtless mainly from its most soluble
portions.
Fourth-This 1872 per cent. when
applied to 100 tons of hay means loss
of 1872 tons. This. at Sc per ton, gives
a money loss of 1920. This sum is
the interest on $500 at per cent.
For 81, $50 barn can be constructed
in which water will not freeze and that
will hold 100 tons of hay and cattle
enough to consume it.
In conclusion Prof. SanbOrn ex-
presses the belief that the loss from
badly stacked hay is enormous, and
therefore not in the interest of econ
omy. He advises a moderately ex-
pcnsive barn. This saves the hay
stamped out about stacks; it saves the
manure; it decreases the amount OF
food eaten; it saves the lives of ami
mails and the loss of hay from sources
above considered.
To those who can not secure barns q
cheap and successful system may be
found in building broad, square. high
stacks, and covering them with boards.
a double layer of boards being used to
cover the joints. The English thatch-
ing and other systems of covering are
often available.-N. Y. World.